A Bridge Marked by Blood
Spanning the Chickasawhay River, Shubuta’s Hanging Bridge is more than just an old steel structure—it is a symbol of racial terror. In the early 20th century, this bridge became infamous as the site of multiple lynchings, where Black victims were hanged by white mobs who knew they would never face justice. It remains one of the most notorious lynching sites in American history, yet no plaques, no memorials, and no official recognition exist to acknowledge the horrors that took place there.
Shubuta, Mississippi: A Town Stained by Violence
Located in Clarke County, Mississippi, Shubuta is a small town with a brutal history of racial oppression. Like much of the Deep South, it operated under a strict racial hierarchy enforced by violence. Lynchings were not just acts of mob rage—they were calculated tools of white supremacy, meant to terrorize Black residents and remind them of their place in society.
Mississippi had the highest number of lynchings in the United States, and Shubuta played its part in that bloody legacy. Black residents knew that a mere accusation, no matter how false or flimsy, could lead to their deaths. The Hanging Bridge stood as the town’s ultimate warning—a place where Black bodies were left dangling as a message to the entire community.
The 1918 Lynching: The First Infamous Hanging
The first widely known lynching at Shubuta’s bridge occurred on December 20, 1918, when a mob hanged four Black victims—Major Clark, Andrew Clark, Maggie Howze, and Alma Howze.
Maggie and Alma were young Black women, both pregnant at the time of their deaths. They, along with Major and Andrew Clark, were accused of conspiring to kill a white farmer named Barney DeVoe. But the truth didn’t matter. Without trial or evidence, a mob decided their fate.
The lynching was carried out with unrelenting brutality. Maggie Howze was thrown off the bridge multiple times before she finally died. The Howze sisters and the Clark men were hanged together, their bodies swaying above the river for all to see. This was not just a killing—it was a public spectacle, a warning, a display of power.
The 1942 Lynching of Ernest Green and Charlie Lang
Nearly a quarter of a century later, the same bridge was used again for another lynching—this time of two Black children, Ernest Green and Charlie Lang.
These boys, just 14 and 15 years old, were accused of a crime without any proof, trial, or chance to defend themselves. The lynching followed the same pattern—mob violence, law enforcement complicity, and no consequences for the killers.
While this blog does not retell their full story, their murders are proof that the bridge had become a designated site for racial terror. The same cycle of injustice repeated itself on that steel structure, reinforcing its dark legacy.
Why the Bridge Was Used for Lynchings
Lynchings were rarely hidden acts of violence—they were meant to be seen. Shubuta’s Hanging Bridge was chosen for its visibility and its role in public intimidation. Positioned over the river, it allowed mobs to execute their victims in a way that was both dramatic and unforgettable.
The bridge served as a stage for white supremacy, a tool to keep Black residents in fear. The mere sight of it became a psychological weapon—a silent but ever-present reminder of what could happen to those who stepped out of line.
The Failure of Justice
Law enforcement played an active role in allowing these lynchings to happen. Sheriffs, deputies, and local officials either looked the other way or directly facilitated the violence. In every lynching at the Hanging Bridge, no one was ever held accountable.
The standard response from officials was that the killers were “unknown persons,” despite the fact that the entire town often knew who was responsible. Investigations, if they happened at all, were deliberately weak.
The Unmarked, Unremembered Bridge
Today, Shubuta’s Hanging Bridge still stands, but it is a forgotten monument to racial terror. Unlike other sites of historic injustice, such as the Edmund Pettus Bridge or the locations documented by the Equal Justice Initiative, this bridge remains unmarked.
There is no historical marker, no educational display, no public acknowledgment of the horrors committed here. The town does not speak of it. It remains an uncomfortable truth buried beneath time and silence.
Why Shubuta’s Hanging Bridge Must Be Remembered
Shubuta’s bridge is not just a relic—it is a testament to the brutality of racial violence in America. To forget it is to erase the lives that were stolen on that steel frame.
This bridge must be remembered. Its victims must be acknowledged. Until then, it stands as a silent witness to the injustices of the past, waiting for history to finally tell the truth.
